Engineering Beyond the Double Bind: Women of Color in Engineering Education and Careers

这一工程教育研究项目旨在显著促进和阻碍非洲裔美国人、拉丁裔、美国原住民和亚裔美国女性在本科和职业生涯早期从事工程学的因素的现有知识库；并提高对有希望的元素的理解，这些元素降低了进入和通过工程教育计划及以后的障碍和多样化的途径。目前，与美国人口中的黑人女性相比，工程领域的有色人种女性在工程劳动力中的比例严重偏低，但人们对她们的教育或早期职业经历知之甚少，也不知道这些经历如何导致她们从工程学流失或留在工程学。该项目有三个方面：(1)综合过去15年关于工程教育中有色人种妇女的经验研究；(2)分析75个由或关于有色人种妇女在工程教育和早期职业生涯中的叙述(生活故事)；以及(Iii)对24名有色人种女性本科生和早期专业人员的访谈研究，这些女性在她们最不具代表性的子领域：航空航天、土木工程和机械工程。通过更系统和更全面地了解在工程教育和早期职业生涯中对有色人种年轻女性的帮助和伤害，该项目的发现将切实指导教育工作者和雇主如何使她们的STEM环境多样化，从而培养更广泛的国内人才基础。目前的研究表明，不同的群体？独特的背景、视角和经验有可能为STEM内部的发现和创新带来显著的新方法。因此，这个项目的更广泛的意义和重要性源于它将如何帮助工程多样化，从而增强美国的实力？作为科学世界领导者的地位。

This engineering education research project aims to significantly contribute to the existing knowledge base about factors that promote and hinder African American, Latina, Native American, and Asian American women in engineering at the undergraduate and early career levels; and to enhance the understanding of promising elements that lower barriers and diversify pathways to, and through, engineering education programs and beyond. Currently, women of color in engineering are severely underrepresented in the engineering workforce relative to their representation in the U.S. population, yet little is known about their educational or early career experiences or how these experiences contribute to their attrition from, or retention in, engineering. The project has three tracks:(I) a synthesis of empirical research from the last 15 years on women of color in engineering education; (II) analysis of 75 narratives (life stories) by or about women of color in engineering education and early careers; and (III) an interview study of 24 women of color undergraduates and early professionals in subfields in which they are most underrepresented: aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering.By producing a more systematic and comprehensive understanding about what helps and hurts young women of color in engineering education and early careers, findings from this project will practically guide educators and employers on how to diversify their STEM settings and thus cultivate a broader base of domestic talent. Current research suggests that diverse groups? unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences have potential to bring dramatically new approaches to discovery and innovation within STEM. Thus, the broader significance and importance of this project arises from how it will help to diversify engineering and thus strengthen the United States? position as a scientific world leader.